Poura Hakkula Sangham Seeks Halt To ‘Operation Kagar’ In Karregutta
“Instead of military action, the government should enter into dialogue,” said Madhan Kumaraswamy, state secretary of Poura Hakkula Sangham.
KARIMNAGAR: Members of the Poura Hakkula Sangham and allied civil-society organisations on Wednesday called on the Centre to immediately suspend combing operations in the Karregutta area of Usur block, along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border.
Speaking at a press conference at the Peddapalli Press Club, leaders alleged that some 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel, supported by helicopters and drones, began “Operation Kagar” in the region on April 22. They noted the campaign has been active since January 1, 2024, across forested districts in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra (Gadchiroli), Telangana and Odisha.
“Instead of military action, the government should enter into dialogue,” said Madhan Kumaraswamy, state secretary of Poura Hakkula Sangham. He pointed out that Maoist leaders have repeatedly expressed willingness to negotiate, both in writing and in a recent Bastar Talks YouTube interview — provided hostilities cease.
Civil-rights activists warned that the ongoing offensives endanger tribal communities and could derail any future peace process. They urged a formal ceasefire, the withdrawal of armed forces from conflict zones, and the prompt initiation of talks with Maoist representatives.
The appeal — echoed by intellectuals, journalists, writers, and constitutional experts — invoked protections under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules and the PESA Act. Participants at the press meet included Karimnagar district unit president Shripati Rajagopal, vice-president Pulla Sucharitha, and EC members Yadavaneni Parvathalu and N. Satyanarayana. The groups also called on opposition parties and the Telangana Congress government to back their demand for an immediate halt to the operation and a renewed peace initiative.
